Bright Sword: Conquer the monk at the beginning and take down Zhou Weiguo

He'd never worried about his own life or death; at least when facing an enemy, Qin Cang had long since learned to remain calm and decisive. But at this moment, he felt a deep, unspeakable anxiety. He feared losing them, especially Liu San—a man so intent on protecting Xiao Hu that his life felt inextricably linked to his own. Add to that Liu San's injuries, and even the slightest delay could make the situation even more critical.

"Liu San, if you can hear me now..." Qin Cang muttered softly in a low voice with a hint of helplessness and self-blame, "I shouldn't have let you be so impulsive. I shouldn't have let you think that everything can be controlled." He took a deep breath, trying to calm his uneasy emotions, but his heart was surging like the tide.

"Click——"

A faint sound was heard, and Qin Cang stopped abruptly, holding his breath for a moment, his ears pricked up, like a hunter catching the slightest movement. It was the sound of branches being crushed, crisp and warning, and then, footsteps approached silently.

"Enemy?" Qin Cang's eyes narrowed sharply as he quickly formed a judgment. Either the enemy had discovered their tracks, or the previously hidden danger was quietly approaching. He lowered his body, crouching behind a large rock, holding his breath and concentrating, his gaze sweeping over everything around him.

"If they're truly enemies, we'll have to fight tonight," Qin Cang thought to himself. His usual ease and composure had completely vanished. His concentration was intense, and he radiated murderous intent. Even the air had become strangely tense. Every second was a matter of life and death.

But Qin Cang didn't rush out immediately. Instead, he waited patiently, his eyes fixed on that direction. He knew that even though the enemy's footsteps were approaching, it didn't mean they had discovered him. If he showed up rashly, he might reveal his whereabouts.

After a while, the footsteps gradually faded away, as if the enemy hadn't noticed anything unusual and continued to move forward along their route. Qin Cang breathed a sigh of relief, but then came a heavier feeling - they were getting closer and closer to the enemy, and any unexpected situation could lead to irreversible consequences.

"We must find Liu San and Xiao Hu as soon as possible." Qin Cang was filled with anxiety. He whispered to himself, "If we continue to delay, the consequences will be disastrous."

He took a deep breath, stood up abruptly, and continued running forward, his heartbeat accelerating. In the darkness, his shadow seemed to be swallowed by the haze, disappearing into the endless night. He took each step with extreme caution, trying to keep the sound of his footsteps as low as possible, as if he would be surrounded by the enemy at any moment.

He knew that if Liu San and Xiao Hu lingered outside for too long, they would easily be spotted by the enemy, especially in such a desolate place. Once exposed, they would face an unbearable blow. Qin Cang desperately quickened his pace, silently praying in his heart, wondering if he could arrive in time this time.

-

Meanwhile, Liu San and Xiao Hu were still unaware that Qin Cang was coming towards them. They were not walking fast, and were even a little panicked, anxious to find food to bring back to the cave, or to find enough information to determine whether the enemy had left.

Xiaohu's eyes still held a hint of impatience and eagerness, as if he felt he could contribute something here, at least bring back something edible for the team. As the youngest member of the team, he was filled with a fierce desire for survival and a spirit of adventure, finding it difficult to calm down under this pressure. Every step he took seemed to urge him to make a decision.

"Calm down," Liu San whispered, his tone resigned. He watched Xiaohu's restless back, feeling a surge of irritation. He knew Xiaohu disliked inaction, especially in a crisis like this. But he also understood that Xiaohu didn't fully grasp the gravity of the situation—they had been exposed, and the enemy hadn't given up searching for them.

"Stop running around," Liu San frowned and whispered, "Qin Cang will be here soon, we must go back quickly." He knew that Qin Cang would arrive sooner or later, but the situation was becoming increasingly pessimistic - the enemy might track them down at any time, and if they continued like this, their situation would only become more dangerous.

"Qin Cang is not omnipotent." Xiaohu retorted in a low voice, glancing back at Liu San with a hint of disdain in his eyes, "Think about it, if an enemy really catches up with him, can he withstand it alone?" His tone was full of youthful contempt, as if he could easily deal with any challenge.

Liu San was stunned. He knew Xiaohu was a man who never obeyed easily. He had his own way of judging, and he always went out of his way to protect Xiaohu. But at this moment, he suddenly realized that a subtle rift seemed to have formed between his own judgment and Xiaohu's impulsiveness.

"You're always so stubborn." Liu San couldn't help but sigh, "Sometimes, surviving is more important than doing more."

Xiaohu paused and glanced back at Liu San. The discontent in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a helpless expression. He knew clearly that Liu San had risked his life for him. Perhaps he should follow the instructions in a moment and return to the cave.

but--

"Listen!" Xiaohu suddenly whispered, his face instantly serious. "Did you hear anything?"

Liu San stopped and listened carefully. In the darkness, there was no sound around, only the wind blowing through the treetops, bringing bursts of rustling sounds.

"It must be the wind." Liu San frowned, thinking the sound was normal. But then he glanced at Xiao Hu's eyes and saw that his expression was becoming increasingly serious, and he suddenly felt uneasy.

"Xiao Hu?" Liu San called softly, "What's wrong with you?"

In the darkness, the air seemed frozen. The surrounding woods were eerily silent, with only the whisper of the wind through the treetops. Qin Cang's heartbeat grew faster and faster, but his footsteps grew more steady and powerful. He knew he was approaching the heart of danger. Liu San and Xiao Hu's tracks were no longer so vague, their footsteps becoming clearer, and he could almost feel the tense and dangerous atmosphere.

Qin Cang quickened his pace, his heart filled with anxiety. He quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for any possible cover, fearing he would be exposed. The tense atmosphere made it almost impossible for him to concentrate, but he knew that if he lost his composure, the consequences would be disastrous.

He finally saw a figure in the distance—Liu San. The figure was no longer as resolute as before, but bent over, his steps noticeably heavy, as if he were stumbling. Qin Cang's heart tightened, and his steps suddenly stopped. He could see clearly that it was Liu San.